Lettering template strip



March 7, 1950 v SMITH 2,499,838

LETTERING TEMPLATE STRIP Filed Feb. 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -0- 13 g I 4 A Q U.

47 351 4'0 #1 42 Fig. 2 4s 44 '45 T 4 H9 3 Q Q3 HQ W V Fig. 4

By. 5 I 1 13,. 6

Emanuel A. Smith A TTORNE Y March 7, 1950 E. A. SMITH 2,499,838

LETTERING TEMPLATE STRIP Filed Feb. 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to template strips for forming cut-out letters, numerals and punctuation marks, this being a continuation-in-part of the copending application Serial No. 1197, filed January 8, 1948.

It is primarily within the contemplation of this invention to provide a template strip of the character described having preferably identically spaced perforations in two parallel rows, substantially as described in the said copending app1ication, but further provided with identical portions of special shape-spaced at intervals along the strip and interrupting said rows of perforations-of such configuration whereby certain letters and characters of styles not obtainable with my said first invention could be produced.

It is a further object of my invention to enable various forms of said identical portions to be employed with the said perforated template strip, to produce a great variety of diiferent letters in many different styles.

It is also an object to enable the template strips of this form of my invention to be iabricated with roller or other forms of production dies, substantially in the manner forming continuous stencil strips.

Another object of my invention is the provision of template strips of the character described into compact rolls, for convenient and economical handling and storing.

C ther objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description here inafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure l. is a plan view of a fragment of a template strip according to my invention, showing two special-shaped portions interrupting the rows of perforations.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the perforated portion of the strip, showing by dot-dash outlines certain letters that can be cut out therefrom.

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 represent various letters, punctuation marks and numerals cut out from the said strip, mostly employing the said special-shaped portions.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a fragment of another form of strip,- showing a modified form of spe cial-shaped portions.

Figure 9 represents various. characters cut out from the said special-shaped portions'of the strip of Fig. 8, the dot-dash lines indicating in each case the configuration of said special-shaped portions.

Figure 10 is a plan view of another form of strip according to my invention, showing a further modification of special-shaped portions.

Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 represent various-letters and numerals formed from the. template strip of Fig. 10, employing particularly said special-shaped portions.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the essence of this form of my invention, the strip comprising perforated portions 2!, and identical special-shapedportions 22 disposed at spaced intervals along the strip. The perforated portions 2i each comprise twoparallel rows 23 and 24 of apertures 25 and 28, all the apertures being preferably of identical design and proportions. In the said perforated portions 2| there are three longitudinal sections, to wit, upper marginal section 21, lower marginal section 28 and intermediate section 29, all substantially as set forth in the said copending patent application.

The said special-shaped portions 22 each comprices three separate members, to wit, (1) a substantially P-shaped member 29 consisting of straight transverse leg 30" and a sidewise disposed u-shap'ed member 3!, (2) member 32 consisting of two inclined legs 33 and 34 intersecting at apex 35 and joined by horizontal connecting bar 36, and (3) the member l0 consisting of outer circle 38 and inner circle 3! tangent to said circle 38. The portion 22 heredescribed is the basic form of the special-shaped portion of this invention, the various other modifications hereinafter to be described containing this basic form, but having certain-additional elements added thereto, as will more clearly appear.

The dot-dash lines 39- in Fig. 2 do not appear on the face of the strip, these lines merely representingthe outlines of certain characters that could be formed from the perforated portion of the strip. For example, the letters E, F, H, I, L, and T are formed at sections 40, 4], 42, 43, 44 and 45, respectively. By merely cutting the strip along the outlines as indicated, these letters, aswell as others, can be formed from the strip, substantially in the manner illustrated in my said prior patent application. Special-shaped portions 22, however, enable certain letters and other characters to be formed in styles and shapes not possible with the use of the perforated strips alone.

For example, by referring to the repersentation of the letters and other characters shown in Figs. 3 to '7 inclusive, it willbe noted that the various elements constituting portions 22 can be so combined as to produce the characters illustrated. A is formedby merely using legs 33, 34 and connecting' bar 36. B is formed by combining the P'-sh'aped memb'er' 29 with U-shaped section 4! taken fioma'nothe'r' portion 22'. C is obviously outer circle 38 with a fragment cut off, and D is substantially half of element 38 with a straight member such-as leg 30 partially overlapping said element. G'is' a major portion of outer circle 38', with a small angular portion, such as 48, added thereto. U can consist of fragments ofany' twostraight'le'gs, such as 30, and the said U-shape'd" section" 3! pasted thereto" in overlap ping relation. Q is outer circle 38 with a fragment of any straight section added thereto. R is P-shaped member 29, with a straight strip added thereto in obvious manner. S can consist of fragments of two different inner circles 31. W is formed from two sets of inclined legs 33 and 34 inverted and in overlapping relation. Y is the apical portion of member 32, with a straight stem added. The comma 50 can be an angular portion substantially similar to section 48 shown in Fig. 1. The question mark is formed from a major inner fragment of the circle 3'! and a straight stem 5| added thereto. The dollar sign is obviously formed from two overlapping fragments of inner circles 31, and straight portions 52 added thereto. The cent sign is a fragment of the inner circle 3'! and two straight sections attached thereto.

The numerals shown in Fig. 6 are also readily cut out from the above described template strip.

The upper portion 53 of the numeral 2 is formed from a fragment of the inner circle 37, and the intermediate portion 53 of said numeral can also be formed from a fragment of said circle. The

lower portion 54 of said numeral can be formed member 3| together with the adjacent portion of leg 36. f can be formed by cutting out portion 55. All the other lower case letters are formed by combinations of elements which, in the light of the above description, appear obvious.

The modification of Fig. 8 contains perforated portions Zia, substantially like portions 2| of Fig. 1. It also contains portions 22a containing all the elements of special-shaped portions 22, but with certain additional elements. More specifically, each portion 22a contains a vertical or transverse leg 3811, a sidewise disposed U-shaped member 31a, as one member of the combination; as the second member it contains outer circular element 38a and inner circle 31a tangent thereto; and as the third member it contains the two inclined legs 33a and 34a meeting at apex 35a, and connected by the horizontal bar 35a. However, the first member contains, in

addition, the lower sidewise disposed U-shaped member 51; and connecting the outer circle 38a with inclined leg 33a is the vertical leg 58 attaohed to the free end of said inclined leg 33a; and in addition, there is another short vertical leg 59 extending from the apical portion 35 in intersecting relation to bar 36a.

Figure 9 clearly illustrates how certain letters can be formed from section 220.. For the purpose of brevity only a few of the letters are shown, the dot-dash lines indicating the complete configuration of the said third member of the combination in relation to the cut-out portions.

Figure 10, illustrating another embodiment of my invention, also contains perforated portions Zlb, analogous to portions 2| of Fig. 1, and special-shaped portions 22b containing the basic elements of portion 22 of Fig. 1. For example, portion 2222 contains the vertical leg 30b and the sidewise disposed U-shaped element lib as one member of the combinations-and as another member the outer circle 38b and the inner circle 31b tangent thereto; and as the third member, the portion 221) contains the two inclined legs 33?) and 34b meeting at apex 35b connected by cross bar 36b. This portion also contains, like the structure of Fig. 8, the vertical leg 58b between outer circle 38b and inclined leg 331), as well as the other vertical element 5% equivalent to element 59 of Fig. 8. Here the said inclined legs 33b and 34b also contain two short horizontal elements 6!] and 6| intermediate the lengths thereof. Also, the upper ends of the said inclined legs 33b and 34b are joined by upper horizontal section 66. The middle member contains an additional element, to wit, the small inner circular member 63 tangent to outer circular member 38b and intersecting inner circular member 31b. The member to the left of circle 38?) contains the leg 63 dependent from the said side wise disposed U-shaped member 3 lb.

By referring to Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 it will be seen that attractively styled characters can be formed from this modification of my invention. The letter a containing the bases 64 and 65 is formed from members 33b, 34b, cross bar 36b, the said bases 64 and 65 being formed from said horizontal section 86. j is formed by combining a fragment of circle 3Tb with a straight section. 61 is formed from outer circle 38b, and a fragment of one of the inner circles. All the other letters can be formed by combining portions of the various elements in a manner which, by virtue of the description hereinabove given, should be obvious.

The various forms of template strips herein shown, each containing alternately perforated portions and special-shaped portions along the entire length thereof, can obviously be formed by suitable rolling dies or b any other continuous production methods adapted to Produce repeated designs.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A template strip for forming all the letters of the alphabet comprising a continuously repeated sequence of perforated and special-shaped character-forming portions arranged alternately along the strip, said perforated portions containing two parallel rows of correspondingly spaced apertures, said special-shaped portions each containing three adjacent joined members, one of said members comprising a vertical leg transverse with respect to the strip and a sidewise disposed U-shaped element, whereby said member is substantially P-shaped, another of said members comprising an outer circular element and an inner circular element contained Within and tangent to the outer circular element, and the third of said members comprising two inclined legs meeting at an apex and a horizontal connecting bar joining said legs.

2. A template strip according to claim 1, the said third member being disposed between the said other two members.

3. A template strip according to claim 1, the said inner circular element being eccentric with respect to the said outer circular element.

4. A template strip according to claim 1, further provided with a second sidewise disposed U-shaped element adjacent said first-mentioned U-shaped element, whereb the first said member is substantially B-shaped.

5. A template strip according to claim 1, further provided with a vertical leg joining the free end of one of said inclined legs and transversely disposed with respect to said strip.

6. A template strip according to claim 1, further provided with a relatively short leg extending from the said apex transverse to the strip and in intersecting relation to said connecting bar.

'7. A template strip according to claim 1, further provided with a second sidewise disposed U-shaped element adjacent said first-mentioned U-shaped element, whereby the first said member is substantially B-shaped, a vertical leg joining the free end of one of said inclined legs and transversely disposed with respect to said strip, and a relatively short leg extending from the said apex transverse to the strip and in intersecting relation to said connecting bar.

8. A template strip according to claim 7, the said member containing said circular elements being disposed between the other two members.

9. A template strip according to claim 1, further provided with a second inner circular element tangent to the said outer circular member and adjacent the first-mentioned inner circular element.

10. A template strip according to claim 9, further provided with two relatively short straight elements intersecting said inclined legs intermediate their lengths.

11. A template strip according to claim 1, further provided with an element joining the terminals of said inclined legs.

12. A template strip according to claim 1, further provided with a second inner circular element tangent to the said outer circular member and adjacent the first-mentioned inner circular element, two relatively short straight elements intersecting said inclined legs intermediate their lengths, and an element joining the terminals of said inclined legs.

EMANUEL A. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dreyfus Sept. 8, 1942 Number 

